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It's time to catch them all again. Our Pokemon Black and White Primer Guide gets you started with info about new Pokemon, returning favorites, and brand new features. Here's what's inside:

New Pokemon: Found out about all 156 new Pokemon to collect

Version Exclusives: Find out what's different about the Black and White versions

C-Gear: Learn about multiplayer and online C-Gear features

New Pokemon

Type Strengths and Weaknesses

As with the previous entries of the series, each Pokemon has a type that can increase their offenses and defenses. Having a dual type can be a double edged sword: while it can some times increase a Pokemon's offensive potential, it can in turn expose them to new weaknesses or create a double weakness to another type.

New Black and White Pokemon

Black and White includes 156 new Pokemon, increasing the total National Pokedex to 649. Keep in mind that you can also come across previous Pokemon, some of which are exclusive to Black or White.

Pokemon Name

Type

Version Exclusive

Victini

Psychic, Fire

Snivy

Grass

Servine

Grass

Serperior

Grass

Tepig

Fire

Pignite

Fire, Fighting

Emboar

Fire, Fighting

Oshawott

Water

Dwott

Water

Samurott

Ground

Patrat

Normal

Watchdog

Normal

Lilipup

Normal

Herdier

Normal

Stoutland

Normal

Purrloin

Dark

Liepard

Dark

Pansage

Grass

Simisage

Grass

Pansear

Fire

Simisear

Fire

Panpour

Water

Simipour

Water

Munna

Psychic

Musharna

Psychic

Pidove

Normal, Flying

Tranquill

Normal, Flying

Unfezant

Normal, Flying

Blitzle

Electric

Zebstrika

Electric

Roggenrola

Rock

Boldore

Rock

Gigalith

Rock

Woobat

Psychic, Flying

Swoobat

Psychic, Flying

Drilbur

Ground

Exadrill

Ground, Steel

Audino

Normal

Timburr

Fighting

Gurdurr

Fighting

Conkeldurr

Fighting

Tympole

Water

Palpitoad

Water, Ground

Seismitoad

Water, Ground

Throh

Fighting

Sawk

Fighting

Sewaddle

Bug, Grass

Swadloon

Bug, Grass

Leavanny

Bug, Grass

Venipede

Bug, Poison

Whirlipede

Bug, Poison

Scolipede

Bug, Poison

Cottonee

Grass

Black

Whimsicott

Grass

Black

Petilil

Grass

White

Liligant

Grass

White

Basculin

Water

Sandile

Ground, Dark

Krokorok

Ground, Dark

Krookodile

Ground, Dark

Darumaka

Fire

Darmanitan

Fire

Maractus

Grass

Dwebble

Bug, Rock

Crustle

Bug, Rock

Scraggy

Dark, Fighting

Scrafty

Dark, Fighting

Sigilyph

Psychic, Flying

Yamask

Ghost

Confagrigus

Ghost

Tirtouga

Water, Rock

Carracosta

Water, Rock

Archen

Rock, Flying

Archeops

Rock, Flying

Trubbish

Poison

Garbodor

Poison

Zorua

Dark

Zoroark

Dark

Minccino

Normal

Cinccino

Normal

Gothita

Psychic

Black

Gothorita

Psychic

Black

Gothitelle

Psychic

Black

Solosis

Psychic

White

Duosion

Psychic

White

Reuniclus

Psychic

White

Ducklett

Water, Flying

Swanna

Water, Flying

Vanillite

Ice

Vanillish

Ice

Vanilluxe

Ice

Deerling

Normal, Grass

Sawsbuck

Normal, Grass

Emolga

Electric, Flying

Karrablast

Bug

Escavalier

Bug, Steel

Foongus

Grass, Poison

Amoonguss

Grass, Poison

Frilish

Water, Ghost

Jellicent

Water, Ghost

Alomomola

Water

Joltik

Bug, Electric

Galvantula

Bug, Electric

Ferroseed

Grass, Steel

Ferrothorn

Grass, Steel

Klink

Steel

Klang

Steel

Klinklang

Steel

Tynamo

Electric

Eelektrik

Electric

Eelektross

Electric

Elgyem

Psychic

Beheeyem

Psychic

Litwick

Ghost, Fire

Lampent

Ghost, Fire

Chandelure

Ghost, Fire

Axew

Dragon

Fraxure

Dragon

Haxorus

Dragon

Cubchoo

Ice

Beartic

Ice

Cryogonal

Ice

Shelmet

Bug

Accelgor

Bug

Stunfisk

Ground, Electric

Mienfoo

Fighting

Mienshao

Fighting

Druddigon

Dragon

Golett

Ground, Ghost

Golurk

Ground, Ghost

Pawniard

Dark, Steel

Bisharp

Dark, Steel

Bouffalant

Normal

Rufflet

Normal, Flying

White

Braviary

Normal, Flying

White

Vullaby

Dark, Flying

Black

Mandibuzz

Dark, Flying

Black

Heatmor

Fire

Durant

Bug, Steel

Deino

Dark, Dragon

Zweilous

Dark, Dragon

Hydreigon

Dark, Dragon

Larvesta

Fire, Bug

Volcarona

Fire, Bug

Cobalion

Fighting, Steel

Terrakion

Fighting, Rock

Virizion

Fighting, Grass

Tornadus

Flying

Black

Thundurus

Dragon, Fire

White

Reshiram

Dragon, Fire

Black

Zekrom

Dragon, Electric

White

Landorus

Ground, Flying

Kyurem

Dragon, Ice

Keldeo

Water, Fighting

Meloetta

Normal, Psychic

Genesect

Bug, Steel

Exclusive Version Pokemon

Both Black and White have exclusive Pokemon to collect. Some of these are from older generations. Many of White's exclusive Pokemon must be caught in the White Forest. You can of course gain them all by trading with other players.

Black Exclusive

Pokemon Name

Type

Pokedex Number

Weedle

Bug, Poison

13

Kakuna

Bug, Poison

14

Beedrill

Bug, Poison

15

Murkrow

Dark, Flying

198

Houndour

Dark, Fire

228

Houndoom

Dark, Fire

229

Shroomish

Grass

285

Breloom

Grass, Fighting

286

Plusle

Electric

311

Volbeat

Bug

313

Honchkrow

Dark, Flying

430

Cottonee

Grass

546

Whimsicott

Grass

547

Gothita

Psychic

574

Gothorita

Psychic

575

Gothitelle

Psychic

576

Vullably

Dark, Flying

629

Mandibuzz

Dark, Flying

630

Tornadus

Flying

641

Resgiram

Dragon, Fire

643

White Exclusive

Pokemon Name

Type

Pokedex Number

Caterpie

Bug

10

Metapod

Bug

11

Butterfree

Bug, Flying

12

Para

Bug, Grass

46

Parasect

Bug, Grass

47

Misdreavus

Ghost

200

Poochyena

Dark

261

Mightyena

Dark

262

Minun

Electric

312

Illumise

Bug

314

Mismagius

Ghost

429

Petilil

Grass

548

Liligant

Grass

549

Solosis

Psychic

577

Duosion

Psychic

578

Reuniclus

Psychic

579

Rufflet

Normal, Flying

527

Braviary

Normal, Flying

628

Thundurus

Flying, Electric

642

Zekrom

Dragon, Electric

644

White Forest Bonus Pokemon

Pokemon Name

Type

Pokedex Number

Pidgey

Normal, Flying

16

Nidoran (Female)

Poison

29

Nidoran (Male)

Poison

32

Oddish

Grass, Poison

43

Abra

Psychic

63

Machop

Fighting

66

Bellsprout

Grass, Poison

69

Magnemite

Electric, Steel

81

Gastly

Ghost, Poison

92

Rhyhorn

Ground, Rock

111

Porygon

Normal

137

Togepi

Normal

175

Mareep

Electric

179

Hoppip

Grass, Flying

187

Wooper

Water, Ground

194

Elekid

Electric

239

Magby

Fire

240

Wurmple

Bug

265

Lotad

Water, Grass

270

Seedot

Grass

273

Ralts

Psychic

280

Surskit

Bug, Water

283

Slakoth

Normal

287

Whismur

Normal

293

Azurill

Normal

298

Aron

Steel, Rock

304

Trapinch

Ground

328

Corphish

Water

341

Bagon

Dragon

371

Starly

Normal, Flying

396

Shinx

Electric

403

Budew

Grass, Poison

406

Happiny

Normal

440

Black City and White Forest

Each version of the game as an exclusive location between Routes 15 and 14 in Unova. In Pokemon Black there is the Black City, while in white there is the White Forest.

Black City has extra items that can be purchased. The available items can change by using Entralink and entering another player's City or Forest. The city also includes high level trainers that use Pokemon ranging from level 30 all the way to level 65. There are Backpackers and Roughnecks that have multiple Pokemon and will offer Triple and Rotation Battles. Black City is a good place for high end fights and finding difficult challenges.

White Forest contains exclusive Pokemon from older generations. Typically they are around level 5 when caught. As with Black City, White Forest can be changed by using Entralink to explore another person's City or Forest. There are also a handful of trainers here, but not nearly the amount in Black City. White Forest is better for catching older Pokemon that you may want to train up.

Poke Transfer

You can transfer Pokemon from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Head to Route 15 in Unova and over to the Poke Transfer Lab. Note that transfers will not retain held items or Hidden Machine moves.

A mini-game will start where six Pokemon from the previous game will appear behind several bushes. There is a time limit bar at the top of the screen signaling how long you have to catch the Pokemon. You can catch each Pokemon when they appear out of the bushes or attempt to run around the area.

You can also sleep several Pokemon at once by hitting the pink clouds that float by. Sleeping pokemon can be caught even if they are still behind a bush. Keep in mind that any Pokemon that are not captured will return to their previous game. However, there is no penalty for using Poke Transfer multiple times.

Seasons

Seasons in the game change every real world month: Spring during January, May, and September; Summer during February, June and October; Autumn during March, July, and November; and Winter in April, August, and December. Outside visual appearance and changes in music, seasons can also change parts of gameplay.

Several locations in the game change depending on the season. These include Route 8, Dragonspiral, Undella Bay, and Moor of Icirrus. The season in these locations can effect which wild Pokemon appear. Seasons also have an effect on some Pokemons abilities, such as Sawsbuck and Deerling.

C-Gear

C-Gear is a new system that can be used to access wireless, Wi-Fi, and infrared multiplayer options.

Entralink

C-Gear can be used to quickly warp to the Entralink forest, a location in cnetral Unova. Here you can gain Pokemon from Nintendo's official Pokemon Dream World with Dream Balls. You can also use Entralink to warp to other player's Unova and undertake various missions. These multiplayer missions reward Pass Orbs that can be used to gain exclusive Pass Powers that aid all nearby players.

Xtransceiver

Xtransceiver can be used to directly communicate with players via the DS' mic. If other players are also using the DSi, video phone communication can be achieved with the built in camera.

Global Link

Global Link can be accessed early in the game by entering the Dreamyard and collecting Dream Mist from a Munna. If you bring this item to Fennel in Striaton City she will unlock this new Wi-Fi mode.

You will need a Nintendo Pokemon Global Link account to access the Dream World itself. Due to server traffic, there are limits on time spent in Dream World. Most often you will only have one hour of access a day to this feature.

Dreamworld can be used to gain extra Pokemon, find items, and explore Dream Island. In Dream World you are also given a home which you can furnish and redesign. You can also trade and take items via the Share Shelves in your home.

Triple and Rotation Battles

Triple and Rotation Battles are new means of fighting Pokemon in Black and White.

Triple battles make use of three Pokemon at once that can be used as a team. Not only can Pokemon on a team help one another, but they are also able to harm one another if they are not careful. You can also issue orders to move your Pokemon around, changing their location and order.

Similar to Triple Battles are Rotation Battles. However, during these fights only one Pokemon on each team can use an action at a time, requiring more strategy. These fights mostly happen in Black City, however they can be found in various other locations to offer an interesting challenge.